Carmelo Garcia from Hoboken was among six Hudson County residents sworn-in during the New Jersey General Assembly reorganization meeting on Jan. 14. The afternoon ceremony at the War Memorial marked the commencement of the 216th Legislature. He will represent the 33rd District, which includes a portion of Jersey City, Hoboken, Union City, and Weehawken.

Garcia, along with Raj Mukherji from Jersey City, are beginning their first term in the state Assembly after being elected in November.

They join veteran Hudson County Assembly members Jason O’Donnell and Charles Mainor (31st Dist.) who represent half of Jersey City and Bayonne, and Assembly members Angelica Jimenez and Vincent Prieto (32nd district) who represent Secaucus, North Bergen, West New York, Guttenberg and western Hudson County.

Prieto will also serve as the speaker for the State Assembly, one of the two most powerful posts in the state legislature.

Prieto is currently assigning committee posts to various assembly members. O’Donnell will return to the Labor Committee, Financial Institution Committee and Housing and Urban Development Committee. Other committee assignments are to be announced shortly.

Volunteers needed at New Jersey Blood Services

New Jersey Blood Services, which supplies blood products and services to 60 hospitals throughout the state, is in need of volunteers at blood drives.

“The blood service volunteer is an integral member of the collection team, whose task it is to assist donors with registration, escorting, and canteen duties, and to watch for post-donation reactions,” said R. Jan Zepka, manager of community relations.

Volunteers should have the ability to relate to the public, be able to perform different jobs as needed, and have the willingness to follow rules.

For additional information, contact Zepka at (732) 616-8741 or rzepka@nybloodcenter.org.

Hudson County Animal League hosting flea market in Bayonne

The Hudson County Animal League will host a flea market at the old fire house and senior center, 27th Street and Broadway in Bayonne, on Feb. 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.